Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Skeptics among us
In recent interviews with News India Times, a surprising portion of the usually pro-Obama Indian Americans revealed widespread hesitations over President Obama, his proposed health care reforms and the government-run public health insurance option.
While many interviewees were pro-reform and happy with their current health plans, many revealed that they were without health insurance. Yet another group revealed doubts about the place of the U.S. amongst the world's most developed countries and others expressed hesitation over the financing and administration of the public option.
"Obama isn't tackling the problem," said Sriram Sundarraj, 22, a financial analyst from New York, N.Y. "He's doing it because it was a campaign promise."
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While many interviewees were pro-reform and happy with their current health plans, many revealed that they were without health insurance. Yet another group revealed doubts about the place of the U.S. amongst the world's most developed countries and others expressed hesitation over the financing and administration of the public option.
"Obama isn't tackling the problem," said Sriram Sundarraj, 22, a financial analyst from New York, N.Y. "He's doing it because it was a campaign promise."
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Labels: health insurance, healthcare, hesitations, insurance, obama health reform plan, obama speech healthcare, President Obama, United states
Thursday, September 10, 2009
President Obama hosts several South Asians at iftar dinner
Several Indian Americans as well as India's ambassador to the United States, Meera Shankar, were guests at President Obama's Sept. 1 aftar dinner, where he praised Islam and the contributions of American Muslims.
Also present were several members of Congress from both parties, including Sen. Richard Lugar, ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. John Conyers, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Attorney General Eric Holder and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Pakistani Ambassador Husain Haqqani was also among the invitees, as were several ambassadors from Muslim countries.
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Also present were several members of Congress from both parties, including Sen. Richard Lugar, ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. John Conyers, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Attorney General Eric Holder and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Pakistani Ambassador Husain Haqqani was also among the invitees, as were several ambassadors from Muslim countries.
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Labels: american muslims, iftar, iftar dinner, iftar party, Indian Americans, indians, Islam, muslim countries, muslim holy month, obama host iftar dinner, praise, ramadan, South Asians, United states
Thursday, June 25, 2009
United States speeds visas for foreign students, researchers
United States government officials say they have implemented changes to the visa process that will greatly shorten delays faced by foreign students and researchers traveling to the United States.
Officials won't specify exactly what these changes are but they promise that the time needed for a visas mantis check-a security review aimed at preventing weapons proliferation, and the main bottleneck in the visa approval process-will go down from a current average of several months to two weeks.
The changes, which went into effect last week, are a response to complaints from academic and scientific organizations over the past year
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Officials won't specify exactly what these changes are but they promise that the time needed for a visas mantis check-a security review aimed at preventing weapons proliferation, and the main bottleneck in the visa approval process-will go down from a current average of several months to two weeks.
The changes, which went into effect last week, are a response to complaints from academic and scientific organizations over the past year
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Labels: Foreign students, researchers, traveling, United states, united states government, visa approval process, visa process, visas, weapons
Monday, April 27, 2009
Pakistan is ‘abdicating to the Taliban', Secretary Clinton says
The Pakistani government "is basical ly abdicating to the Taliban and to the extremists," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told Congress on April 22 in an unusually blunt statement that reflects the unease within the Obama administration about an agreement authorized by President Asif Ali Zadari last week.
The agreement would permit sharia, or Islamic law, in the Swat Valley - just 100 miles west of the capital, Islamabad - and was reached after the Pakistani military failed to rout Taliban fighters there.
Clinton, appearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, tempered her remarks by saying that the Pakistani government needs to improve its delivery of justice and services - precisely what leaders there aim to do with billions of dollars in new U.S. assistance.
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The agreement would permit sharia, or Islamic law, in the Swat Valley - just 100 miles west of the capital, Islamabad - and was reached after the Pakistani military failed to rout Taliban fighters there.
Clinton, appearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, tempered her remarks by saying that the Pakistani government needs to improve its delivery of justice and services - precisely what leaders there aim to do with billions of dollars in new U.S. assistance.
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Labels: Clinton, islamic law, obama administration, pakistan government, pakistani military, president asif ali zadari, senator clinton, Swat Valley, Taliban, taliban fighters, United states
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Jewish organization urges full implementation of nuke deal with India
The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA), a Washington based advocacy group, urged the Obama Administration to strengthen what it called the "critically important" U.S.-India relationship, especially to counter the alleged nuclear threat from Iran.
"The United States could not have a more important partner in the effort to curb Iranian nuclear weapons development and counter the scourge of global nuclear proliferation than India," said JINSA Executive Director Tom Neumann in a release from the organization March 31.
Neumann also expressed concern over the appointment of Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher (DCA) as Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security because of her long-standing opposition to the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-proliferation Enhancement Act
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"The United States could not have a more important partner in the effort to curb Iranian nuclear weapons development and counter the scourge of global nuclear proliferation than India," said JINSA Executive Director Tom Neumann in a release from the organization March 31.
Neumann also expressed concern over the appointment of Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher (DCA) as Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security because of her long-standing opposition to the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-proliferation Enhancement Act
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Labels: civilian nuclear trade, india, iranian nuclear weapons development, jewish, jewish organization, nuclear threat from iran, nuclear weapons, nuke deal with india, United states
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Ambegaokar crowned Queen of Azalea Festival in North Carolina
In a historic year when the United States seems taken over by Bollywood song and dance with ‘Slumdog Millionaire', and all things Indian are taking on a new light, it is almost predictable that the Queen of one of the longest running festivals should be an ‘All American' girl of Indian origin Amrapali Ambegaokar.
The North Carolina Azalea Festival announced it had chosen Ambegaokar as its Queen Azalea for the 62nd anniversary of the festival.
"I am honored and thrilled to be chosen as the current ‘Queen Azalea 2009'! It makes me so proud to be American - truly American where culture, color, ethnicity barriers are dissolved into a celebration of one another's spirit - the human spirit!" Ambegaokar declared in an announcement by the festival March 23.
But Ambegaokar is already a well-known for being ‘Miss Asian America', ‘Miss India USA' and ‘Miss India North America' in the past.
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The North Carolina Azalea Festival announced it had chosen Ambegaokar as its Queen Azalea for the 62nd anniversary of the festival.
"I am honored and thrilled to be chosen as the current ‘Queen Azalea 2009'! It makes me so proud to be American - truly American where culture, color, ethnicity barriers are dissolved into a celebration of one another's spirit - the human spirit!" Ambegaokar declared in an announcement by the festival March 23.
But Ambegaokar is already a well-known for being ‘Miss Asian America', ‘Miss India USA' and ‘Miss India North America' in the past.
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Labels: All American, Amrapali Ambegaokar, Bollywood song, historic year, Miss Asian America, North Carolina Azalea Festival, Queen Azalea 2009, Slumdog Millionaire, United states
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Lieutenant General Karl Eikenberry nominated Ambassador to Afghanistan
President Obama nominated Lieutenant General Karl Eikenberry, Deputy Chairman of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Military Committee in Brussels, Belgium, to be his next Ambassador to Afghanistan.
This key appointment comes in the midst of the President's ongoing review of Afghanistan policy and heralds a meeting of minds between the General and the President on narrowing strategic objectives in that country where the Taliban is gaining ground.
Eikenberry was Commander of the Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan before going to Brussels. He has also served in operational posts which include service as commander and staff officer with mechanized, light, airborne, and ranger infantry units in the continental United States, Hawaii, Korea, and Italy.
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This key appointment comes in the midst of the President's ongoing review of Afghanistan policy and heralds a meeting of minds between the General and the President on narrowing strategic objectives in that country where the Taliban is gaining ground.
Eikenberry was Commander of the Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan before going to Brussels. He has also served in operational posts which include service as commander and staff officer with mechanized, light, airborne, and ranger infantry units in the continental United States, Hawaii, Korea, and Italy.
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Labels: Afghanistan, Afghanistan policy, Ambassador, Belgium, Brussels, Lieutenant General Karl Eikenberry, Military Committee, NATO, United states
Monday, March 2, 2009
Jindal's catchphrase played on Obama's ‘Yes, we can' slogan
Following is the text of Governor Jindal's response.
Americans can do anything
"Good evening. I'm Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana.Tonight, we witnessed a great moment in the history of our Republic. In the very chamber where Congress once voted to abolish slavery, our first African-American President stepped forward to address the state of our union. With his speech tonight, the President completed a redemptive journey that took our nation from Independence Hall . to Gettysburg . to the lunch counter . and now, finally, the Oval Office.
Regardless of party, all Americans are moved by the President's personal story -- the son of an American mother and a Kenyan father, who grew up to become leader of the free world.
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Americans can do anything
"Good evening. I'm Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana.Tonight, we witnessed a great moment in the history of our Republic. In the very chamber where Congress once voted to abolish slavery, our first African-American President stepped forward to address the state of our union. With his speech tonight, the President completed a redemptive journey that took our nation from Independence Hall . to Gettysburg . to the lunch counter . and now, finally, the Oval Office.
Regardless of party, all Americans are moved by the President's personal story -- the son of an American mother and a Kenyan father, who grew up to become leader of the free world.
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Labels: Americans, bobby jindal, first African-American President, Governor of Louisiana, Oval Office, President's personal story, United states
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Diversity Lottery application deadline December 1
The Congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is inviting applications. The deadline for receipt is December 1.
The program makes available 50,000 permanent resident visas annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Winners of the lottery have a chance to apply for an immigrant visa, which can be used to enter the U. S. Winners are selected randomly, and there is no fee to enter the lottery.
The immigration department cautioned applicants there have been instances of fraudulent websites posing as official U.S.Government sites. Some companies posing as the U.S. Government have sought money in order to "complete" lottery entry forms. There is no charge to download and complete the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form.
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The program makes available 50,000 permanent resident visas annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Winners of the lottery have a chance to apply for an immigrant visa, which can be used to enter the U. S. Winners are selected randomly, and there is no fee to enter the lottery.
The immigration department cautioned applicants there have been instances of fraudulent websites posing as official U.S.Government sites. Some companies posing as the U.S. Government have sought money in order to "complete" lottery entry forms. There is no charge to download and complete the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form.
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Labels: applications, deadline, Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form, eligibility, immigration, receipt, United states, Visa Lottery, visas
Monday, October 13, 2008
President Bush invites hundreds to formal signing of law on nuclear deal
President Bush invited more than 100 Indian Americans plus a host of business representatives and others to the White House October 8, to witness his triumphant signing into law of the U.S.-India civil nuclear cooperation agreement. He called the two countries "natural partners" that fought colonialism to establish vibrant democracies, encourage private enterprise, and now, to jointly fight terrorists. He offered a Diwali prayer for expanding bilateral relations before signing the dotted line.
The President also countered critics in India who have said external clauses Congress had inserted would jeopardize India's independence.
The bill, H.R. 7081, United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act, establishes the legal framework for the 123 Agreement to come into effect. The 123 Agreement lays out the details and obligations of the nuclear trade relationship ."The bill makes clear that our agreement with India is consistent with the Atomic Energy Act and other elements of U.S. law," the President emphasized before the signing.
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The President also countered critics in India who have said external clauses Congress had inserted would jeopardize India's independence.
The bill, H.R. 7081, United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act, establishes the legal framework for the 123 Agreement to come into effect. The 123 Agreement lays out the details and obligations of the nuclear trade relationship ."The bill makes clear that our agreement with India is consistent with the Atomic Energy Act and other elements of U.S. law," the President emphasized before the signing.
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Labels: agreement, Atomic Energy Act, bill, Diwali prayer, india, Indian Americans, invites, nuclear deal, President George W. Bush, signing of law, United states, White House, witness
Monday, September 15, 2008
Nuclear nations approve disputed India trade waiver
Forty-five nations approved a U.S. proposal on September 6 to lift a global ban on nuclear trade with India in a breakthrough towards sealing the U.S.-India civilian nuclear co-operation deal.
One hurdle remained before the U.S.-India deal can take force - ratification by the U.S.Congress. It must act before adjourning in late September for elections or the deal could be left to an uncertain fate under a new U.S.administration.
The U.S.-India deal raised international misgivings since India has shunned the NonProliferation Treaty (NPT) meant to stop the spread and production of nuclear weapons and mandate gradual disarmament, and a companion test ban pact.
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One hurdle remained before the U.S.-India deal can take force - ratification by the U.S.Congress. It must act before adjourning in late September for elections or the deal could be left to an uncertain fate under a new U.S.administration.
The U.S.-India deal raised international misgivings since India has shunned the NonProliferation Treaty (NPT) meant to stop the spread and production of nuclear weapons and mandate gradual disarmament, and a companion test ban pact.
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Labels: approve, ban, disarmament, disputed, india, India trade waiver, Manmohan Singh, NPT, NSG, nuclear deal, Nuclear nations, nuclear weapons, U S adminstration, United states, Vienna
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
'Secret' letter's release renews battle over nuclear pact
As international negotiators met in Vienna to decide the fate of the contentious nuclear energy agreement between India and the United States, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government found itself facing a revived political battle at home over the deal because of the release of a secret letter in Washington.
The letter's disclosure caught India's government by surprise, a senior government official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The official added that opponents of the deal probably made it public to try to weaken India in the final stages of efforts to win approval from the 45-country Nuclear Suppliers Group in Vienna.
But more than the Vienna deliberations, the Indian official said, Singh faces the bigger challenge of rescuing the government's plummeting popularity.
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The letter's disclosure caught India's government by surprise, a senior government official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The official added that opponents of the deal probably made it public to try to weaken India in the final stages of efforts to win approval from the 45-country Nuclear Suppliers Group in Vienna.
But more than the Vienna deliberations, the Indian official said, Singh faces the bigger challenge of rescuing the government's plummeting popularity.
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Labels: battle, challenge, india, India's government, Manmohan Singh, NSG, nuclear deal, nuclear fuel, secret lwtter, United states, Vienna, Washington
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
India, United States begin reworking draft nuclear deal
The United States and India began reworking a draft agreement to win approval from a global nuclear trade bloc that has been skeptical of the two nations' proposed civilian nuclear deal, officials said on August 25.
A 45-nation meeting on whether to lift a ban on nuclear trade with India ended inconclusively last week after many members wanted to attach conditions, like trying to ban further nuclear tests by the Asian power.
The deal would allow India access to nuclear technology and fuel, overturning a three-decade ban on trade after India tested nuclear weapons in 1974.
The countries in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was scheduled to meet on September 4-5, when the United States is expected to rework the draft for a waiver breaking the nuclear trade embargo.
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A 45-nation meeting on whether to lift a ban on nuclear trade with India ended inconclusively last week after many members wanted to attach conditions, like trying to ban further nuclear tests by the Asian power.
The deal would allow India access to nuclear technology and fuel, overturning a three-decade ban on trade after India tested nuclear weapons in 1974.
The countries in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was scheduled to meet on September 4-5, when the United States is expected to rework the draft for a waiver breaking the nuclear trade embargo.
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Labels: Asian power, civilian nuclear deal, draft agreement, india, Nuclear Suppliers Group, reworking, Richard Boucher, United states
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Musharraf's resignation after nine years in office is victory for democracy
The resignation of President Pervez Musharraf after nine years in office is a major victory for Pakistan's long-battered and still fragile democratic forces.
But particularly given the meltdown the country has endured in recent weeks, there are still many obstacles to effective civilian governance. Although the United States will expect things to change in a hurry, they are unlikely to do so right away.
Three of Pakistan's past four military rulers have been driven from power by popular movements, but the politicians who followed the military all failed to take advantage of the people's desire for democracy and economic development and were eventually forced out by the military on charges of corruption and incompetence.
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But particularly given the meltdown the country has endured in recent weeks, there are still many obstacles to effective civilian governance. Although the United States will expect things to change in a hurry, they are unlikely to do so right away.
Three of Pakistan's past four military rulers have been driven from power by popular movements, but the politicians who followed the military all failed to take advantage of the people's desire for democracy and economic development and were eventually forced out by the military on charges of corruption and incompetence.
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Labels: Asif Ali Zardari, charges, corruption, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, military, pakistan, Pakistan's politics, PPP, President Pervez Musharraf, resignation, United states, Victory
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Raj Bhavsar, gymnastics, Raju Rai, badminton
Gymnast Raj Bhavsar, 28, of Houston, Texas, and badminton player Raju Rai, 25, of Atlanta, Georgia, represented the United States in the Beijing Olympics.
Bhavsar and his teammates won a Bronze medal in a triumphant performance by a team that had lost its top performers, the Hamm brothers at the very last minute. Commentators characterized Bhavsar as steadying force on the team. Always appearing calm, but also unhappy with his last pummel horse performance, Bhavsar had his parents cheering him from the stands, waving a large U.S. flag.
Bhavsar, 28, was a member of the 2001 World Championships Team that earned an unprecedented silver medal, and he helped Team USA defend that title at the 2003 Worlds. He also is the 2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-Around Champion. In 2001, he helped Ohio State University win the NCAA title. Bhavsar, the son of Joe and Sue Bhavsar, began gymnastics at the age of three.
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Bhavsar and his teammates won a Bronze medal in a triumphant performance by a team that had lost its top performers, the Hamm brothers at the very last minute. Commentators characterized Bhavsar as steadying force on the team. Always appearing calm, but also unhappy with his last pummel horse performance, Bhavsar had his parents cheering him from the stands, waving a large U.S. flag.
Bhavsar, 28, was a member of the 2001 World Championships Team that earned an unprecedented silver medal, and he helped Team USA defend that title at the 2003 Worlds. He also is the 2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-Around Champion. In 2001, he helped Ohio State University win the NCAA title. Bhavsar, the son of Joe and Sue Bhavsar, began gymnastics at the age of three.
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Labels: Athletics, Atlanta, badminton, Beijing Olympics, Bronze medal, Georgia, gymnastics, Raj Bhavsar, Raju Rai, Team USA, United states
Friday, August 8, 2008
United States wary of Pakistani appeal for more cooperation
Bush administration officials have responded with skepticism to an appeal by visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani for increased intelligence cooperation, which he said would help his country attack militant groups and terrorist encampments near its border with Afghanistan.
"The problem from our perspective has not been an absence of information going into the Pakistani government," said one Bush administration official familiar with discussions between the two governments. "It's an absence of action."
Both governments stressed that their meetings have been cordial, and public statements underlined a shared commitment to counter terrorism. President Bush, in an appearance with Gilani after a White House meeting on July 28, twice noted U.S. respect for Pakistani sovereignty. In an interview on July 29, Gilani emphasized Pakistan's desire "to maintain excellent relations with the United States."
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"The problem from our perspective has not been an absence of information going into the Pakistani government," said one Bush administration official familiar with discussions between the two governments. "It's an absence of action."
Both governments stressed that their meetings have been cordial, and public statements underlined a shared commitment to counter terrorism. President Bush, in an appearance with Gilani after a White House meeting on July 28, twice noted U.S. respect for Pakistani sovereignty. In an interview on July 29, Gilani emphasized Pakistan's desire "to maintain excellent relations with the United States."
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Labels: Afghanistan, border, Bush administration, cooperation, militant attack, Pakistani government, Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, terrorism, United states
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The Democrats Barack Obama calls for better India-Pakistan ties
U .S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on July 22 that the U.S.-led war against militants in Afghanistan might be made easier if the United States worked to improve trust between India and Pakistan.
Obama, who is on a foreign fact-finding trip and visited Afghanistan over the weekend, described Afghanistan as the central front in the war against terrorism and said the situation there was "perilous and urgent".
Trying to reduce tensions between traditional rivals India and Pakistan could help, he said.
"A lot of what drives, it appears, motivations on the Pakistan side of the border, still has to do with their concerns and suspicions about India," Obama told a news conference in the Jordanian capital Amman.
"We haven't had a conversation between the Indians and the Pakistanis that has been sustained and meaningful about how they can arrive at a more sensible arrangement between the two countries that could relieve some of the pressure and help us go after ... some of these forces along the border regions."
Relations between India and Pakistan, who have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947, have become strained again despite an ongoing peace process.
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Obama, who is on a foreign fact-finding trip and visited Afghanistan over the weekend, described Afghanistan as the central front in the war against terrorism and said the situation there was "perilous and urgent".
Trying to reduce tensions between traditional rivals India and Pakistan could help, he said.
"A lot of what drives, it appears, motivations on the Pakistan side of the border, still has to do with their concerns and suspicions about India," Obama told a news conference in the Jordanian capital Amman.
"We haven't had a conversation between the Indians and the Pakistanis that has been sustained and meaningful about how they can arrive at a more sensible arrangement between the two countries that could relieve some of the pressure and help us go after ... some of these forces along the border regions."
Relations between India and Pakistan, who have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947, have become strained again despite an ongoing peace process.
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Labels: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, calls, concerns, india, militants, pakistan, peace, traditional rivals, United states, Washington
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Victory Vote clears way for nuclear deal with United States
The Indian government survived a crucial vote of confidence on July 22, clearing the way for the contentious nuclear energy deal with the United States, after a debate peppered with dramatic allegations of backroom lobbying and bribery.
The vote concluded a bitter nine-month battle in support of the deal by the now-beleaguered coalition government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The agreement, which would give India access to the world market for nuclear fuel and technology, must now be approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which governs the trade of nuclear materials. The U.S. Congress would then vote on the accord.
"This vote gives a clear message to the world that India's head and heart are sound and India is prepared to take its rightful place in the comity of nations," said a beaming Singh, whose supporters burst firecrackers and beat celebratory drums in the streets of New Delhi. "I have always said the deal was important and now we know it."
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The vote concluded a bitter nine-month battle in support of the deal by the now-beleaguered coalition government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The agreement, which would give India access to the world market for nuclear fuel and technology, must now be approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which governs the trade of nuclear materials. The U.S. Congress would then vote on the accord.
"This vote gives a clear message to the world that India's head and heart are sound and India is prepared to take its rightful place in the comity of nations," said a beaming Singh, whose supporters burst firecrackers and beat celebratory drums in the streets of New Delhi. "I have always said the deal was important and now we know it."
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Labels: agreement, battle, BJP, celebrations, IAEA, india, Lok Sabha, nuclear deal, Nuclear Suppliers Group, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, United states, US Congress, Victory, votes
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Group of Eight wants broad United Nations deal to halve emissions
T he G8 rich countries said on July 8 they want to work with the nearly 200 states involved in U.N. climate change talks to adopt a goal of at least halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The final climate communique agreed by the Group of Eight leaders at a summit in northern Japan also said mid-term goals would be needed to achieve the shared goal for 2050, but gave no numerical targets.
The statement puts the focus of fighting global warming on U.N.-led talks to create a new framework for when the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, and papers over differences inside the G8 itself. The U.N. talks are set to conclude in Copenhagen in December 2009.
The careful wording of the statement -always the most contentious part of summit negotiations -- was also unlikely to satisfy those seeking much more specific targets.
Last year, the G8 club of rich nations -Japan, Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Russia and the United States -- agreed merely to "seriously consider" a goal of halving global emissions by mid-century.
The European Union and Japan have been pressing for this year's summit to go beyond that, and Brussels wanted clear interim targets as well.
But U.S. President George W. Bush has insisted that Washington cannot agree to binding targets unless big polluters such as China and India rein in their emissions as well.
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The final climate communique agreed by the Group of Eight leaders at a summit in northern Japan also said mid-term goals would be needed to achieve the shared goal for 2050, but gave no numerical targets.
The statement puts the focus of fighting global warming on U.N.-led talks to create a new framework for when the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, and papers over differences inside the G8 itself. The U.N. talks are set to conclude in Copenhagen in December 2009.
The careful wording of the statement -always the most contentious part of summit negotiations -- was also unlikely to satisfy those seeking much more specific targets.
Last year, the G8 club of rich nations -Japan, Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Russia and the United States -- agreed merely to "seriously consider" a goal of halving global emissions by mid-century.
The European Union and Japan have been pressing for this year's summit to go beyond that, and Brussels wanted clear interim targets as well.
But U.S. President George W. Bush has insisted that Washington cannot agree to binding targets unless big polluters such as China and India rein in their emissions as well.
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Labels: Canada, emissions, France, G8, Germany, greenhouse gas, india, Italy, Japan, President George W. Bush, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UN deal, United Nation, United states
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Hindus high-earning, highly-educated immigrants:86% born outside United States
Hindus are largely a highly educated, high earning minority in this country, paralleling the economic achievements of Indian Americans. But 9 percent of them earn $30,000 or less. Most of them are married but very few marry across religious lines. They also have fewer seniors among them than either the national average or the proportion found among other faiths. This is according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Policy's latest study ‘U.S. Religious Landscape Survey' released end of June.
"The Hindu population is comprised of more immigrants than any other," Allison Pond, Research Associate at Pew Forum and one of those involved in the study, told News India Times. "In fact 86 percent of Hindus were born outside of the U.S. and most of them are from South Central Asia"
The study interviewed more than 35,000 people of which Hindus comprised 257. Asked if this was representative, Pond said Pew had actually taken a larger sample than what was in the population.
"A sample size of about 100 is the accepted industry standard to make generalizations, but we have more than double that for Hindus 257. And in order to get that many cases we did an over-sample of Buddhist and Hindus to get more than a random sample would have fetched us."
Hindus are pretty evenly distributed regionally except in the Midwest where only 13 percent of them choose to live (Table 1). The highest proportion (32 percent) lives in the South, followed by the Northeast (29 percent) and the West (26 percent).
Compared to people of other faiths, Hindus (5 percent) along with Muslims (5 percent) and Buddhists (7 percent) have the lowest percentage of people above 65 (Table 3). Hindus have by far the highest percentage (58 percent) of those 3049. The national average for this age group is 36 percent.
There is a dramatic difference between the numbers of males (61percent) and females (39 percent) among Hindus not paralleled in any of the other faiths (Table 5). In a majority of the other faiths women out number men.
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"The Hindu population is comprised of more immigrants than any other," Allison Pond, Research Associate at Pew Forum and one of those involved in the study, told News India Times. "In fact 86 percent of Hindus were born outside of the U.S. and most of them are from South Central Asia"
The study interviewed more than 35,000 people of which Hindus comprised 257. Asked if this was representative, Pond said Pew had actually taken a larger sample than what was in the population.
"A sample size of about 100 is the accepted industry standard to make generalizations, but we have more than double that for Hindus 257. And in order to get that many cases we did an over-sample of Buddhist and Hindus to get more than a random sample would have fetched us."
Hindus are pretty evenly distributed regionally except in the Midwest where only 13 percent of them choose to live (Table 1). The highest proportion (32 percent) lives in the South, followed by the Northeast (29 percent) and the West (26 percent).
Compared to people of other faiths, Hindus (5 percent) along with Muslims (5 percent) and Buddhists (7 percent) have the lowest percentage of people above 65 (Table 3). Hindus have by far the highest percentage (58 percent) of those 3049. The national average for this age group is 36 percent.
There is a dramatic difference between the numbers of males (61percent) and females (39 percent) among Hindus not paralleled in any of the other faiths (Table 5). In a majority of the other faiths women out number men.
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Labels: achievements, earning, economic, faiths, highly educated, hindus, immigrants, Indian Americans, inter religious marriage, United states
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
United States wants India to move forward on controversial nuclear deal in Doha
The U.S. wants India to quickly move forward on their civil nuclear deal, shoulder its "international responsibilities" as an important global economic power and stop being "a roadblock" in the Doha world trade talks.
Washington also hopes India will make more progress in areas such as caps on foreign equity in retail, insurance, and financial services. It would like to see more protection for intellectual property, particularly in the life sciences, where India seeks to attract more investment.
"Indeed, we hope India will propel the bilateral relationship forward by working with us on a high-standard bilateral investment treaty," U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Christopher Padilla said herein Washington on June 9, at a panel discussion on 'U.S.-India Synergy: Facing the Economic Challenges of the 21st Century' at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
"The benefits for India are clear, and we hope that India's government will choose to move forward as quickly as possible to fully realize the potential of this historic agreement," Padilla said. "It would be tragic for India to forgo this opportunity for a strategic partnership with the United States."
India is proof of the remarkable effects that opening up an economy can have on a country's citizens, Padilla said. "So it is disappointing that India has been a roadblock to success in the Doha negotiations," insisting that it and other developing countries be protected from any real market opening in industrial goods or agriculture or services, while it asks developed countries to do ever more, he said.
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Washington also hopes India will make more progress in areas such as caps on foreign equity in retail, insurance, and financial services. It would like to see more protection for intellectual property, particularly in the life sciences, where India seeks to attract more investment.
"Indeed, we hope India will propel the bilateral relationship forward by working with us on a high-standard bilateral investment treaty," U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Christopher Padilla said herein Washington on June 9, at a panel discussion on 'U.S.-India Synergy: Facing the Economic Challenges of the 21st Century' at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
"The benefits for India are clear, and we hope that India's government will choose to move forward as quickly as possible to fully realize the potential of this historic agreement," Padilla said. "It would be tragic for India to forgo this opportunity for a strategic partnership with the United States."
India is proof of the remarkable effects that opening up an economy can have on a country's citizens, Padilla said. "So it is disappointing that India has been a roadblock to success in the Doha negotiations," insisting that it and other developing countries be protected from any real market opening in industrial goods or agriculture or services, while it asks developed countries to do ever more, he said.
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Labels: agriculture, controversial, Doha, Economic Challenges, india, India's government, nuclear deal, real market, United states, Washington
Friday, June 6, 2008
For much of the world, Obama's victory was a moment to admire United States
For much of the world, Sen. Barack Obama's victory in the Democratic primaries was a moment to admire the United States, at a time when the nation's image abroad is in tatters.
From hundreds of supporters crowded around televisions in rural Kenya, Obama's ancestral homeland, to jubilant Britons writing "WE DID IT!" on the "Brits for Barack" site on Face book, people celebrated what they called an important racial and generational milestone for the United States.
"This is close to a miracle. I was certain that some things will not happen in my lifetime," said Sunila Patel, 62, encountered on the streets of New Delhi. "A black president of the U.S. will mean that there will be more American tolerance for people around the world who are different."
The primary elections generated unprecedented interest around the world, as people in distant parliament buildings and that ched roof huts followed the political ups and downs as if they were watching a Hollywood thriller.
Much of the interest simply reflects hunger for change from President Bush, who is deeply unpopular in much of the world.
At the same time, many people abroad seemed impressed - sometimes even shocked - by the wide-open nature of U.S. democracy and the history-making race between a woman and a black man.
"The primaries showed that the U.S. is actually the nation we had believed it to be, a place that is open-minded enough to have a woman or an African-American as its president," said Minoru Morita, a Tokyo political analyst.
"I think it will be put down as a shining, historical moment in the history of America," said Fumiaki Kubo, a professor at Tokyo University.
While Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has admirers around the world, especially from her days as first lady, interviews on four continents suggested that Obama's candidacy has most captured the world's imagination.
"Obama is the exciting image of what we always hoped America was," said Robin Niblett, director of Chatham House, a London think tank. "We have immensely enjoyed the ride and can't wait for the next phase."
The presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, who has extensive overseas experience, is known and respected in much of the world. In interviews, McCain seemed more popular than Obama in countries such as Israel, where he is particularly admired for his hard line against Iran.
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From hundreds of supporters crowded around televisions in rural Kenya, Obama's ancestral homeland, to jubilant Britons writing "WE DID IT!" on the "Brits for Barack" site on Face book, people celebrated what they called an important racial and generational milestone for the United States.
"This is close to a miracle. I was certain that some things will not happen in my lifetime," said Sunila Patel, 62, encountered on the streets of New Delhi. "A black president of the U.S. will mean that there will be more American tolerance for people around the world who are different."
The primary elections generated unprecedented interest around the world, as people in distant parliament buildings and that ched roof huts followed the political ups and downs as if they were watching a Hollywood thriller.
Much of the interest simply reflects hunger for change from President Bush, who is deeply unpopular in much of the world.
At the same time, many people abroad seemed impressed - sometimes even shocked - by the wide-open nature of U.S. democracy and the history-making race between a woman and a black man.
"The primaries showed that the U.S. is actually the nation we had believed it to be, a place that is open-minded enough to have a woman or an African-American as its president," said Minoru Morita, a Tokyo political analyst.
"I think it will be put down as a shining, historical moment in the history of America," said Fumiaki Kubo, a professor at Tokyo University.
While Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has admirers around the world, especially from her days as first lady, interviews on four continents suggested that Obama's candidacy has most captured the world's imagination.
"Obama is the exciting image of what we always hoped America was," said Robin Niblett, director of Chatham House, a London think tank. "We have immensely enjoyed the ride and can't wait for the next phase."
The presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, who has extensive overseas experience, is known and respected in much of the world. In interviews, McCain seemed more popular than Obama in countries such as Israel, where he is particularly admired for his hard line against Iran.
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Labels: America, Barack Obama, Black President, China, Democratic administration, Hillary Rodham Clinton, historical moment, John McCain, President Bush, Republican nominee, United states, Victory
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
8 honored by Society of American Asian Scientists in Cancer Research
The Society of American Asian Scientists in Cancer Research (SAASCR) honored eight Indian doctors on April 13 for their outstanding contributions to cancer research. The scientists presented their original research work at the meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) held in San Diego, California from April 13-16.
The awards were presented by SAASCR president, Dr. Rajvir Dahiya, a urologist, who along with Dr. Dharam Paul Chauhan, founded the organization in 2004. The SAASCR is registered in the State of California and according to the organization, has more than 3,000 scientists, mainly Indian origin, working in United States and Canada in the field of cancer research.
The awardees were Dr. Rakesh Kumar is the John G. and Marie Stella Kennedy Memorial Foundation Chair at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, where he is Professor of Molecular and Cellular Oncology and of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He holds the position of Deputy Chair of Molecular Oncology. He is also an adjunct Professor at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. His research focuses on defining the role of chromatin modifiers in the action of estrogen receptor action, advancing the field of phenotypic signaling, and identifying novel therapeutic targets.
Dr. Rajendra G. Mehta is Assistant Vice President of Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Research Institute and Head of Carcino genesis and Chemo prevention Division as well as Drug Discovery Division. He is Professor of Biological Sciences at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago and Professor of Surgical Oncology and Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Chicago. Author of more than 160 scientific papers and reviews, his primary research interest is in the area of cancer chemo prevention.
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The awards were presented by SAASCR president, Dr. Rajvir Dahiya, a urologist, who along with Dr. Dharam Paul Chauhan, founded the organization in 2004. The SAASCR is registered in the State of California and according to the organization, has more than 3,000 scientists, mainly Indian origin, working in United States and Canada in the field of cancer research.
The awardees were Dr. Rakesh Kumar is the John G. and Marie Stella Kennedy Memorial Foundation Chair at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, where he is Professor of Molecular and Cellular Oncology and of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He holds the position of Deputy Chair of Molecular Oncology. He is also an adjunct Professor at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. His research focuses on defining the role of chromatin modifiers in the action of estrogen receptor action, advancing the field of phenotypic signaling, and identifying novel therapeutic targets.
Dr. Rajendra G. Mehta is Assistant Vice President of Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Research Institute and Head of Carcino genesis and Chemo prevention Division as well as Drug Discovery Division. He is Professor of Biological Sciences at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago and Professor of Surgical Oncology and Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Chicago. Author of more than 160 scientific papers and reviews, his primary research interest is in the area of cancer chemo prevention.
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Labels: AACR, California, Canada, cancer research, honored, Indian doctors, SAASCR, San Diego, United states
Thursday, May 8, 2008
12,000 respondents said, India will have most billionaires by 2017
I ndia will have more billionaires than any other country in the world in a decade, according to an online poll by Forbes magazine.
More than half of nearly 12,000 respondents said India will have the maximum number of billionaires in 2017, according to the poll initiated by the U.S. business magazine in November last.
In the world's billionaires list released by the magazine last month, India had the fourth largest number in the world, while the United States had the most. However, only 17 percent believed that the United States would have the most billionaires in 10 years, while 20 percent the second highest after India - thought China would top the list. Incidentally, the Ambani brothers, Mukesh and Anil, together have been rated by the Sunday Times of London as the richest in the world at a combined worth of £43 billion ($85 billion), ahead of America's Walton family, owners of WalMart (£38.4 billion) and Microsoft chief Bill Gates (£29 billion).
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More than half of nearly 12,000 respondents said India will have the maximum number of billionaires in 2017, according to the poll initiated by the U.S. business magazine in November last.
In the world's billionaires list released by the magazine last month, India had the fourth largest number in the world, while the United States had the most. However, only 17 percent believed that the United States would have the most billionaires in 10 years, while 20 percent the second highest after India - thought China would top the list. Incidentally, the Ambani brothers, Mukesh and Anil, together have been rated by the Sunday Times of London as the richest in the world at a combined worth of £43 billion ($85 billion), ahead of America's Walton family, owners of WalMart (£38.4 billion) and Microsoft chief Bill Gates (£29 billion).
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Labels: Ambani brothers, Bill Gates, billionaires, China, Forbes magazine, india, london, Sunday Times, United states, world's billionaires list
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Both defended handling of missteps, misstatements; directed sharp criticism
Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton both defended their handling of missteps and misstatements on the campaign trail and directed sharp criticisms toward each other - during a potentially pivotal Democratic debate in Philadelphia on April 16 night.
With the race for the Democratic presidential nomination mired in a form of trench warfare that has left party leaders searching for a way to bring it to a conclusion before the party's late summer convention, Clinton, D-N.Y., and Obama, D-Ill., began their first head-to-head encounter in nearly two months focused on political disputes rather than their relatively narrow policy differences.
Obama, who leads in the delegates needed to claim the nomination, fielded tough questions about his relationship with his former pastor, his patriotism and his description of small-town voters as "bitter," the latter a controversy that has engulfed his campaign for much of the past week.
Obama argued repeatedly that voters are smart enough to differentiate petty issues from important economic matters.
"So the problem that we have in our politics, which is fairly typical, is that you take one person's statement, if it's not properly phrased, and you just beat it to death," Obama said. "And that's what Senator Clinton's been doing over the last four days. And I understand that. That's politics. And I expect to have to go through this process.
But I do think it's important to recognize that it's not helping that person who's sitting at the kitchen table who is trying to figure out how to pay the bills at the end of the month."
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With the race for the Democratic presidential nomination mired in a form of trench warfare that has left party leaders searching for a way to bring it to a conclusion before the party's late summer convention, Clinton, D-N.Y., and Obama, D-Ill., began their first head-to-head encounter in nearly two months focused on political disputes rather than their relatively narrow policy differences.
Obama, who leads in the delegates needed to claim the nomination, fielded tough questions about his relationship with his former pastor, his patriotism and his description of small-town voters as "bitter," the latter a controversy that has engulfed his campaign for much of the past week.
Obama argued repeatedly that voters are smart enough to differentiate petty issues from important economic matters.
"So the problem that we have in our politics, which is fairly typical, is that you take one person's statement, if it's not properly phrased, and you just beat it to death," Obama said. "And that's what Senator Clinton's been doing over the last four days. And I understand that. That's politics. And I expect to have to go through this process.
But I do think it's important to recognize that it's not helping that person who's sitting at the kitchen table who is trying to figure out how to pay the bills at the end of the month."
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Labels: Barack Obama, campaign trail, debate, defended, Democratic presidential nomination, Hillary Rodham Clinton, politics, sharp criticism, United states
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Resolution supporting Tibet introduced by Congressional delegation to India
In the midst of a diplomatic flurry about Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent meeting in India with Tibetan leader The Dalai Lama, the bipartisan Congressional delegation has gone a step further on April 3rd to introduce a resolution on the House Floor calling on the Chinese government to end its crackdown in Tibet and to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
House Resolution 1077 which will be on the floor the week starting 7, according to the Speakers Office, is urging a "negotiated solution that respects the distinctive language, culture, religious identity, and fundamental freedoms of all Tibetans, and for other purposes." It calls on Beijing to end its crackdown, begin a "results based dialogue, without preconditions, directly with His Holiness the Dalai Lama;" allow independent international monitors and journalists free and unfettered access to Tibet, immediately release all Tibetans who are imprisoned for nonviolently expressing opposition to Chinese Government policies in Tibet.
It also demands that the State Department put China among the countries listed as ''the world's most systematic human rights violators'' in the introduction of the 2007 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and to implement fully the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, including the clause that Washington should ''seek to establish an office in Lhasa to monitor political, economic and cultural developments in Tibet."
It also says the U.S. should make opening of more Chinese consular offices in the U.S. contingent on having a U.S. office in Lhasa.
March 10th was the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule when the 14th Dalai Lama, escaped into exile in India.
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House Resolution 1077 which will be on the floor the week starting 7, according to the Speakers Office, is urging a "negotiated solution that respects the distinctive language, culture, religious identity, and fundamental freedoms of all Tibetans, and for other purposes." It calls on Beijing to end its crackdown, begin a "results based dialogue, without preconditions, directly with His Holiness the Dalai Lama;" allow independent international monitors and journalists free and unfettered access to Tibet, immediately release all Tibetans who are imprisoned for nonviolently expressing opposition to Chinese Government policies in Tibet.
It also demands that the State Department put China among the countries listed as ''the world's most systematic human rights violators'' in the introduction of the 2007 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and to implement fully the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, including the clause that Washington should ''seek to establish an office in Lhasa to monitor political, economic and cultural developments in Tibet."
It also says the U.S. should make opening of more Chinese consular offices in the U.S. contingent on having a U.S. office in Lhasa.
March 10th was the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule when the 14th Dalai Lama, escaped into exile in India.
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Labels: 49th anniversary, Chinese rule, Congressional delegation, Dalai Lama, india, Lhasa, Resolution supporting, Tibet, United states
Astute, indomitable and brilliant... he created legal history in United States
Gopal Raju's casual demeanor, boyish looks and apparent shyness hid a steeliness and chutzpah that emerged whenever a crisis surfaced.
He displayed both qualities during the nerve racking libel suit against India Abroad News Service by Ajitabh Bachchan in connection with the Bofors kickback scandal in 1991 - for which I (as the agency's London bureau chief) was responsible and single handedly went on to create legal history in the United States.
To realize Raju's astuteness in the landmark judgment for which leading U.S. newspapers and television networks will forever remain grateful to this humble Indian with a razor sharp mind and easy manners, some background is required.
In 1990 at the CBI's request, the Swiss authorities froze six coded accounts into which alleged kickbacks of around $50 million from the import of 410 Bofors howitzers had been deposited.
Following investigation, however, Swiss bankers discovered a sixth "inter-connected" account.
Thereafter, Bo Anderson, a correspondent for Dagens Nyheter, the leading Swedish newspaper credited with several Bofors exposes, relying on CBI and Indian legal sources, declared that the account was Ajitabh Bachchan's, brother of the film icon Amitabh in the January 31, 1990 edition of his journal.
This report was widely quoted by several newspapers and agencies, including the IANS bureau in London which I then represented.
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He displayed both qualities during the nerve racking libel suit against India Abroad News Service by Ajitabh Bachchan in connection with the Bofors kickback scandal in 1991 - for which I (as the agency's London bureau chief) was responsible and single handedly went on to create legal history in the United States.
To realize Raju's astuteness in the landmark judgment for which leading U.S. newspapers and television networks will forever remain grateful to this humble Indian with a razor sharp mind and easy manners, some background is required.
In 1990 at the CBI's request, the Swiss authorities froze six coded accounts into which alleged kickbacks of around $50 million from the import of 410 Bofors howitzers had been deposited.
Following investigation, however, Swiss bankers discovered a sixth "inter-connected" account.
Thereafter, Bo Anderson, a correspondent for Dagens Nyheter, the leading Swedish newspaper credited with several Bofors exposes, relying on CBI and Indian legal sources, declared that the account was Ajitabh Bachchan's, brother of the film icon Amitabh in the January 31, 1990 edition of his journal.
This report was widely quoted by several newspapers and agencies, including the IANS bureau in London which I then represented.
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Labels: Ajitabh Bachchan, Bofors kickback scandal, Gopal Raju, IANS bureau, New York Supreme Court, Swedish newspaper, United states
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Washington flexible on Mukherjee's call for more time on nuclear deal
Washington will continue to follow developments on the U.S.-India civil nuclear cooperation deal bogged down in domestic politics, and may relax the pressure to expedite it, going by Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee's two-day visit here starting March 23rd. Secretary Rice has accepted an invitation to visit India in the near future.
"… we will continue to work on that agreement. The Indians are now in a process of working with the IAEA and we'll follow that progress, but we will have further discussions on that matter later," Rice said at a joint press briefing following her meeting with Mukherjee on March 23.
Mukherjee also met with President Bush on March 24th night for a half hour, and said he "had the opportunity to discuss thoroughly," regional and international issues.
During his visit, Mukherjee squarely put the blame on Opposition Left parties in India for the stalled nuclear deal, calling their stance "ideological" but indicated the Manmohan Singh government was negotiating full steam.
Pointing out that of the four stages required for the nuclear deal to become a reality, the 123 Agreement between India and the U.S.A. had been initialed. The second stage, to have the approval of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on an India-specific safeguard agreement, the agreement was yet to be initialed and approved by the Board of Governors. "In that stage, we are currently engaged with various political parties who are supporters of our coalition government in India. And the discussion is still going on."
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"… we will continue to work on that agreement. The Indians are now in a process of working with the IAEA and we'll follow that progress, but we will have further discussions on that matter later," Rice said at a joint press briefing following her meeting with Mukherjee on March 23.
Mukherjee also met with President Bush on March 24th night for a half hour, and said he "had the opportunity to discuss thoroughly," regional and international issues.
During his visit, Mukherjee squarely put the blame on Opposition Left parties in India for the stalled nuclear deal, calling their stance "ideological" but indicated the Manmohan Singh government was negotiating full steam.
Pointing out that of the four stages required for the nuclear deal to become a reality, the 123 Agreement between India and the U.S.A. had been initialed. The second stage, to have the approval of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on an India-specific safeguard agreement, the agreement was yet to be initialed and approved by the Board of Governors. "In that stage, we are currently engaged with various political parties who are supporters of our coalition government in India. And the discussion is still going on."
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Labels: india, Indian Foreign Minister, International Atomic Energy Agency, nuclear deal, Pranab Mukherjee, United states, Washington
Monday, March 31, 2008
Foundation to help slum children in New Delhi
The Adopt a Mother Foundation (AAMF) was established in June 1999, and appears to be successful in providing much needed services to poor children living in the burgeoning slums and slum-like habitations around New Delhi, the capital of what is considered an economic powerhouse of the country.
In its nearly 10 years of existence, AAMF has provided nutrition, education, and medication to the poorest children, "giving them the chance to learn, grow and live with health, dignity and opportunity."
"We are currently educating over 1,300 children in our program," Prativa Bhutia, Project Manager at AAMF told News India-Times. "We have been regularly organizing meeting/workshops, cultural programs, field trips for the children. Our biggest challenge is to motivate children to join our classes. We have to motivate their parents also," she said.
The website of the organization says all donations made to AAM Foundation in the United States are tax-exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service. For more details on its activities visit the site at www.aamf.org, or write to them at info@aamf.org. It is also a tax exempt organization in India. The organization also allows for donors to pay online at http://www.aamf.org/help.asp, and it gives you the option of making a donation
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In its nearly 10 years of existence, AAMF has provided nutrition, education, and medication to the poorest children, "giving them the chance to learn, grow and live with health, dignity and opportunity."
"We are currently educating over 1,300 children in our program," Prativa Bhutia, Project Manager at AAMF told News India-Times. "We have been regularly organizing meeting/workshops, cultural programs, field trips for the children. Our biggest challenge is to motivate children to join our classes. We have to motivate their parents also," she said.
The website of the organization says all donations made to AAM Foundation in the United States are tax-exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service. For more details on its activities visit the site at www.aamf.org, or write to them at info@aamf.org. It is also a tax exempt organization in India. The organization also allows for donors to pay online at http://www.aamf.org/help.asp, and it gives you the option of making a donation
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Labels: Adopt a Mother Foundation, donors, educational centres, informal schooling program, Internal Revenue Service, New Delhi, Prativa Bhutia, slum children, United states
Sunday, March 23, 2008
International parental child abduction from the U.S. to India
There has been a rash of cases concerning parents who remove a child from the United States to India without the consent of the other parent and then refuse to return the child to this country.
Parents often have a grave misunderstanding of the serious nature of such parental child abduction. Many believe that simply because India is not yet a party to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the "Hague Convention") the legal system can neither prevent nor cure a parent's unauthorized removal of a child from the United States to India. Such views are totally mistaken.
U.S. federal law makes kidnapping a crime even when it is committed by one of the child's parents. The International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act (IPKCA), 18 U.S.C.1204, makes it a federal felony to remove a child under the age of 16 from the United States, or to retain a child outside the United States with the intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of parental rights. In addition, every state recognizes that the abduction of a child by his or her parent is a serious crime, subject to penalties in excess of one year in prison.
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Parents often have a grave misunderstanding of the serious nature of such parental child abduction. Many believe that simply because India is not yet a party to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the "Hague Convention") the legal system can neither prevent nor cure a parent's unauthorized removal of a child from the United States to India. Such views are totally mistaken.
U.S. federal law makes kidnapping a crime even when it is committed by one of the child's parents. The International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act (IPKCA), 18 U.S.C.1204, makes it a federal felony to remove a child under the age of 16 from the United States, or to retain a child outside the United States with the intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of parental rights. In addition, every state recognizes that the abduction of a child by his or her parent is a serious crime, subject to penalties in excess of one year in prison.
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Labels: Civil Aspects, india, International Child Abduction, International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act, nagpur, United states
Monday, March 17, 2008
Nepal's controversial living goddess has given up her divine position
A controversial young Nepali girl worshipped by many Buddhists and Hindus as a Kumari, or "living goddess", has given up her divine position following a request from her family, an official said on March 1.
The 11-year-old Sajani Shakya was revered for nine years as the Kumari of the ancient temple-town of Bhaktapur, near Kathmandu, in a centuries-old tradition.
"She is no more a Kumari," said Dipak Pandey, a senior official of the state-run Trust Corporation that oversees the cultural affairs in the deeply religious nation.
Pandey said Sajani's family wanted to perform their own religious rituals which required her to give up her divine position and rejoin her family.
Kumaris traditionally retire when they reach the age menstruation.
Last year, Sajani made international head lines after she visited the United States to promote a film by British company about the ancient practice.
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The 11-year-old Sajani Shakya was revered for nine years as the Kumari of the ancient temple-town of Bhaktapur, near Kathmandu, in a centuries-old tradition.
"She is no more a Kumari," said Dipak Pandey, a senior official of the state-run Trust Corporation that oversees the cultural affairs in the deeply religious nation.
Pandey said Sajani's family wanted to perform their own religious rituals which required her to give up her divine position and rejoin her family.
Kumaris traditionally retire when they reach the age menstruation.
Last year, Sajani made international head lines after she visited the United States to promote a film by British company about the ancient practice.
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Labels: Bhaktapur, controversial young Nepali girl, Kathmandu, Nepal, Sajani Shakya, United states
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Statement by four critics raises questions about nuclear deal
As India and the U.S. make renewed efforts to conclude their civilian nuclear deal, four U.S. critics of the accord have asked the Bush administration to make public its responses to lawmakers' questions about it.
The four in a statement March 5 asked the State Department to drop a virtual "gag" order on its unclassified responses to over 40 questions sent to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs last October.
"The administration's responses should be made publicly available so that U.S. and Indian lawmakers and the public can evaluate whether the draft US-Indian accord conforms to the terms and conditions established by Congress," said Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association (ACA).
"The administration's unwillingness to make their answers more widely available suggests they have something to hide from either U.S. or Indian legislators," he said.
Joining him were two former senior nonproliferation officials, Fred McGoldrick and Henry Sokolski, and Sharon Squassoni, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
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The four in a statement March 5 asked the State Department to drop a virtual "gag" order on its unclassified responses to over 40 questions sent to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs last October.
"The administration's responses should be made publicly available so that U.S. and Indian lawmakers and the public can evaluate whether the draft US-Indian accord conforms to the terms and conditions established by Congress," said Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association (ACA).
"The administration's unwillingness to make their answers more widely available suggests they have something to hide from either U.S. or Indian legislators," he said.
Joining him were two former senior nonproliferation officials, Fred McGoldrick and Henry Sokolski, and Sharon Squassoni, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
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Labels: Arms Control Association, india, nuclear deal, ritics raises questions, United states
Thursday, March 6, 2008
United States - to study missile defense system
The United States and India will study the possibility of a joint missile defense system, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on February 27, stressing talks were only in their early stages.
"We're just beginning to talk about perhaps conducting a joint analysis about what India's needs would be in the realm of missile defense and where cooperation between us might help advance that," Gates told reporters.
Indian missile-defense cooperation with the United States could complicate relations with China, Russia and Pakistan.
Until now, India's policy has been to develop its missile shield domestically, closing a potential multi billion-dollar market to American manufacturers Boeing Co, Lockheed Martin Corp, Raytheon Co and Northrop Grumman Corp -the biggest players in the emerging ground, air, sea and space based U.S. missile defense system.
But this may be changing in line with a break through Indian decision to buy Lockheed's C130J military transport aircraft earlier this year, U.S. defense officials said.
Gates, in New Delhi to strengthen Washington's strategic ties and make a sales pitch for U.S. arms manufacturers, said the Pentagon wanted to build a relationship focused on long-term cooperation with India, noting it was independent of the current impasse over a controversial civil-nuclear deal sought by Washington.
"We're not looking for quick results or big leaps forward," Gates told reporters.
"But rather a steady expansion of this relationship in a way that leaves everybody comfortable that we're not moving too fast and that works in terms of Indian domestic politics and also works for us."
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"We're just beginning to talk about perhaps conducting a joint analysis about what India's needs would be in the realm of missile defense and where cooperation between us might help advance that," Gates told reporters.
Indian missile-defense cooperation with the United States could complicate relations with China, Russia and Pakistan.
Until now, India's policy has been to develop its missile shield domestically, closing a potential multi billion-dollar market to American manufacturers Boeing Co, Lockheed Martin Corp, Raytheon Co and Northrop Grumman Corp -the biggest players in the emerging ground, air, sea and space based U.S. missile defense system.
But this may be changing in line with a break through Indian decision to buy Lockheed's C130J military transport aircraft earlier this year, U.S. defense officials said.
Gates, in New Delhi to strengthen Washington's strategic ties and make a sales pitch for U.S. arms manufacturers, said the Pentagon wanted to build a relationship focused on long-term cooperation with India, noting it was independent of the current impasse over a controversial civil-nuclear deal sought by Washington.
"We're not looking for quick results or big leaps forward," Gates told reporters.
"But rather a steady expansion of this relationship in a way that leaves everybody comfortable that we're not moving too fast and that works in terms of Indian domestic politics and also works for us."
To read the full article, click here....
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Labels: india, missile defense system, Robert Gates, United states, Washington
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